Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note:
My other story 'The Simple Life' in the Emily/Hotch category also contains some JJ/Rossi moments for those interested.
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January 2015:
Opportunities to get together outside work time were few and far between, so Garcia had declared that tonight they were all going to a Chinese restaurant. She hadn't seen her niece and nephews in far too long, and deemed that this would be the perfect time for her to do so!
Morgan and Reid were the first two to arrive that night. Taking in the sight of the large table, they slip into seats next to each other on the far side as they wait for more guests to arrive, Reid already picking up the menu and memorising each item.
Garcia arrived next and purposely plonks herself down one chair away from Reid. She would be sitting between her godsons tonight! As she and Morgan poke fun at their resident little genius, the Hotchner family arrives.
Five year old Lexi firmly grips her mother's hand as three and a half year old Saxon sprints through the door and rounds the corner, shouting 'Hello!' as he stops and throws his hands in the air. When his father places his hands on his shoulder's and says 'Ssh', he struggles out of his grip and makes his way over to the seat that Garcia is 'dusting' off for him on her left.
Saxon immediately begins talking at a mile a minute as Hotch seats himself next to his son and Lexi stakes her claim on the chair between her Mummy and Daddy.
JJ and six year old Henry arrive soon after. Henry looks momentarily worried about where he will sit until Garcia laughingly crooks her finger and points to the seat between her and Reid: 'You're sitting here boy!' As Henry sprints around the table, poking Lexi in the side and exchanging a high five with Saxon before taking his seat, his mother seats herself with a little more grace next to Emily!
Henry, Saxon and Lexi are signing away at a mile a minute as Lexi complains about Henry's poking and Saxon gangs up on her with Henry. But all that is resolved when the prawn crackers arrive and the kids dig in.
Garcia prevents a mini food fight from erupting between the two 'gentleman' on either side of her, as they all await the arrival of their last team member.
Rossi had a meeting with his editor -a meeting that had ran over time - and of course it was his bad luck that the skies open and pouring rain drops down as he arrives at the restaurant, twenty minutes late.
Stepping through the door, he asks the front for the BAU table. He is guided around a wall to the very sight of his laughing – and very loud! – extended family.
Shrugging out of his wet coat, he commences his greetings. He ruffles Lexi and Sax's hair, kisses Henry's head (and answers the question as to why his hair was wet), slapped the men on the shoulder and smiled at the ladies, before finally giving JJ a quick kiss as he took his seat next to her.
Hotch set about writing down their order with the great assistance of Reid as Emily and Morgan prepared to run next door to grab the drinks order. Lexi shifted into her mum's chair to talk with Aunty JJ at her mother's departure, and was happy to remain seated there, so that when Emily returned she took Lexi's seat next to her husband.
When the food arrived, Reid watched bemusedly as everyone snapped into parental mode to prevent the upending of dishes, burning of children and other likely catastrophes. Young Saxon was quite the trouble maker, but discovered quickly that his father did have eyes all around his head! Henry was more subtle in his approach; managing to gain access to anything he wanted simply by asking his Uncle Spence who was most oblivious and obliging!
By the time Morgan had finished the leftovers, the dishes had been cleared, drinks had been consumed and payment for the dinner haggled out, it was 9:30pm and time to go.
Arising from the table, both Hotch and Rossi made a grab for their boys, swinging them up into their arms as they sprinted past them on their way to the door.
As both complained loudly and visually that Lexi didn't have to be held, JJ advised them both that was because Lexi wasn't running around stupidly. As further attempts to get out of their fathers' arms failed, Saxon and Henry started a tennis game, hitting an invisible ball from one to the other as Hotch and Rossi rolled their eyes at each other.
After saying their lengthy farewells in the car park, everyone made their way to their respective cars and headed home.
Reid was still in awe of his fellow teammates and their abilities to handle three children – particularly two very active boys – as he slipped into the passenger seat of Morgan's car.
He wasn't quite sure that this was a path he would be adequately qualified for at the moment!